Handheld harvester apparatus

Abstract

A handheld harvester apparatus may include a threshing assembly and a screening assembly within a housing. The threshing assembly may include a threshing drum with a plurality of blades coupled to a first axle. The plurality of blades may include a set of teeth configured to strip a plurality of seeds and plant material from a plant. The screening assembly may include a paddle assembly configured to receive the plurality of seeds and plant material from the threshing assembly, the paddle assembly including a plurality of paddles coupled to a second axle. The screening assembly may include a screen assembly positioned beneath the paddle assembly, the screen assembly including a plurality of pass-through apertures configured to define a threshold for the plurality of seeds. The screening assembly may include a collection chamber configured to receive any of the plurality of seeds that exit the plurality of pass-through apertures.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A handheld harvester apparatus, comprising:
 a threshing assembly, comprising:
 a threshing drum configured to rotate about a first axle, the threshing drum including a plurality of blades coupled to the first axle, a blade of the plurality of blades including a set of teeth configured to strip a plurality of seeds and plant material from a head of a plant; 
 
 a screening assembly, comprising:
 a paddle assembly configured to receive the plurality of seeds and plant material from the threshing assembly, the paddle assembly configured to rotate about a second axle, the paddle assembly including a plurality of paddles coupled to the second axle; 
 a screen assembly positioned beneath the paddle assembly, the screen assembly comprising:
 a top screen including a first plurality of apertures, the top screen configured to receive the plurality of seeds from the paddle assembly; 
 a bottom screen including a second plurality of apertures, the bottom screen positioned beneath the top screen, the top screen configured to translate relative to the bottom screen; and 
 a plurality of pass-through apertures configured to define a threshold for at least one of a size or shape of a seed of the plurality of seeds, a pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures defined by an overlapping top aperture of the first plurality of apertures and a bottom aperture of the second plurality of apertures, wherein the top screen translates relative to the bottom screen causes a change of size or a change of shape of the one or more pass-through apertures; and 
 
 a collection chamber positioned beneath the screen assembly, the collection chamber configured to receive a seed of the plurality of seeds that exits a pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures; and 
 
 a housing configured to house at least a portion of the threshing assembly and at least a portion of the screening assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , the screening assembly further comprising:
 a seed chamber comprising one or more interior sidewalls and the paddle assembly, the threshing drum configured to provide the plurality of seeds and plant material to the seed chamber. 
 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , the seed chamber further comprising:
 a floor, the screen assembly positioned beneath the floor of the seed chamber. 
 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 3 , at least one of the one or more interior sidewalls or the plurality of paddles of the paddle assembly including a plurality of ribs, the plurality of ribs configured to clean the plant material from the plurality of seeds prior to transfer to the screen assembly. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a cover of the housing, at least one of the paddle assembly or the collection chamber being accessible via the cover. 
 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 5 , further comprising:
 an exhaust port within the cover, the paddle assembly configured to eject the plant material out through the exhaust port during rotation of the paddle assembly. 
 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , the ejecting of the plant material during rotation of the paddle assembly caused by at least one of a select turbulent air pressure or cavitation within the seed chamber. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 7 , the spacing between the plurality of blades of the paddle assembly and the one or more interior sidewalls including a select tolerance to at least one of generate the select turbulent air pressure or cause the cavitation within the seed chamber. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 7 , the spacing between the plurality of blades of the paddle assembly and the screen assembly including a select tolerance to at least one of generate the select turbulent air pressure or cause the cavitation within the seed chamber. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 6 , at least one of a shape or a size of the exhaust port being adjustable via the exhaust door translating within a set of grooves on the cover. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 an interlocking assembly between the exhaust door and the cover, the at least one of the shape or the size of the exhaust port being set by the interlocking assembly. 
 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 1 , the second axle of the paddle assembly being oriented generally perpendicular to the first axle of the threshing drum. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , the threshing assembly further comprising:
 one or more stationary blades including a set of teeth, the set of teeth of the blade of the plurality of blades configured to pass through a gap between adjacent teeth of the set of teeth of the one or more stationary blades during rotation of the threshing drum. 
 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a handle including a toggle, the toggle configured to control power to at least one of a first motor coupled to the first axle of the threshing drum or a second motor coupled to the second axle of the paddle assembly. 
 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 14 , the threshing drum configured to operate simultaneously with the paddle assembly when the toggle is engaged. 
     
     
       16. The apparatus of  claim 1 , the collection chamber including a seed box, the seed box including a moisture meter configured to measure moisture levels of the seed of the plurality of seeds that exits the pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures, the moisture meter coupled to a user interface. 
     
     
       17. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures has a round shape. 
     
     
       18. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures has an oval shape. 
     
     
       19. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the second plurality of apertures are teardrop-shaped apertures. 
     
     
       20. A handheld harvester apparatus, comprising:
 a threshing assembly, comprising:
 a threshing drum configured to rotate about a first axle, the threshing drum including a plurality of blades coupled to the first axle, a blade of the plurality of blades including a set of teeth configured to strip a plurality of seeds and plant material from a head of a plant; 
 
 a screening assembly, comprising:
 a paddle assembly configured to receive the plurality of seeds and plant material from the threshing assembly, the paddle assembly configured to rotate about a second axle, the paddle assembly including a plurality of paddles coupled to the second axle; and 
 
 a seed chamber comprising one or more interior sidewalls and the paddle assembly, the threshing drum configured to provide the plurality of seeds and plant material to the seed chamber;
 a screen assembly positioned beneath the paddle assembly, the screen assembly comprising:
 a top screen including a first plurality of apertures, the top screen configured to receive the plurality of seeds from the paddle assembly; 
 a bottom screen including a second plurality of apertures, the bottom screen positioned beneath the top screen, the top screen configured to translate relative to the bottom screen; and 
 a plurality of pass-through apertures configured to define a threshold for at least one of a size or shape of a seed of the plurality of seeds, a pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures defined by an overlapping top aperture of the first plurality of apertures and a bottom aperture of the second plurality of apertures; and 
 
 a collection chamber positioned beneath the screen assembly, the collection chamber configured to receive a seed of the plurality of seeds that exits a pass-through aperture of the plurality of pass-through apertures; and 
 
 
       a housing configured to house at least a portion of the threshing assembly and at least a portion of the screening assembly, wherein the seed chamber further includes a floor and the screen assembly is positioned beneath the floor of the seed chamber, wherein at least one of the one or more interior sidewalls or the plurality of paddles of the paddle assembly including a plurality of ribs, the plurality of ribs configured to clean the plant material from the plurality of seeds prior to transfer to the screen assembly.